Apparatus for and method of launching, landing, and mooring dirigibles



Aug. 11, 1931. L. s. HOWLAND 7 APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF LAUNCHING, LANDING,' AND MOORING DIRIGIBLES Filed Se pt. 26, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY Aug. 11, 1931. HOWLAND 1,818,137

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF LAUNCHING, LANDING, AND MOORING DIRIGIBLES Filed Sept. 26, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E Q 5%: INVEN TOR. 1514 5 HOWM/VQ ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 11, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT @FMCE LEVI S. HOWLAND, OF OAKLAND, CAILJIFG"RNIA .APBAB-ATUS FDR AND METHOD OF Li'iUN CHIN G, LANDING, AND MOORING DIRIGIBLES Application filed September 26, 1927. Serial 170222022.

My invention relates to apparatus for and tea method of launching, landing and mooring 'dirigibles.

The objects of my invention are: First, to provide an apparatus of this class whereby d-irigibles, particularly the larger types of dirigibles, may be readily launched, landed and moored without employing hundreds of men for the purpose as is done today; secend, to provide apparatus of this class whereby the dirigible is easily and positively landed in the landed and mooring operation and held substantially immovably in its berth in the hangar; third, to provide apparatus of this class whereby the dirig-ible, when being landed, is drawn to earth, along its designated'airway and into its berth or hangar bypower units or locomotives which are sepa rately operative; fourth, to provide apparatus of this class whereby the dirigible is held substantially immovably in its berth by a plurality of cables extending in various directions from several portions of the d-irigible to anchored power units, locomotives, or trolileys positioned apart from each other and at different elevations within the hangar; fifth, to provide apparatus of this class whereby the dirigi ble is launched in a manner similar to that of landing the dirigible and in the same direction through the opposite end of the hangar; sixth, to provide a novelly constructed hangar for dirigibles and novel wind breaks at the open ends of the hangar to facilitate the landing and launching of dirigilaies; seventh, to provide a hangar having pivotal doors or gates at its open ends, which doors or gates, when swung outwardly, serve as wind breaks for approaching and depart ing dirigihles eighth, to provide novelly constructed and arranged power units, locomotives, or trolleys for launching, landing and mooring dirigibles'; ninth, to provide a novel track system for directing the power units used in launching, landing and mooring dirigibles at the terminal; tenth, to provide novel apparatus to facilitate the connection of light drop cables from the dirigible while in flight to the launching, landing and mooring power units; eleventh, to provide apparatus of this class for launching and landing invention consists of certain no vel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, and of a cor-ta novel method, as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference thereon which form a part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a dirigible ter minal incorporating my invention for launching, landing and mooring dirigibl'es, the view being diagrammatic of the arrangement in one form; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view thereof taken through 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an end ele- 7 va'tional view thereof Fig. 4L- is an enlarged sectional elevational view thereof taken through H of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an enlarged view in plan, showing the construction and arrangement of the power units, locomotives, or trolleys used in launching, landing and mooring the dirigibles Fig. '6 isan enlarged elevationalview taken at 66 of Fig. 5, showing the rear end of one of the power units and, Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational View of the forward end of one of the cabins to which the launching, landing and mooring cables areconnected.

Like characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the views of the drawings.

The hangar 1 may be of steel construction, as other dirigible hangars now in use, and may be of a height suilicient to provide ample clearance above and below the dirigible when the same is moored therein. The length of the hangar may be such as to moor one or a number of dirigibles therein placed end to end, the one shown in the drawings only one dirigible lengthwise. The width of the hangar may be such as to moor one or more dirigibles side by side, the illustration showing two dirigibles placed side by side in the hangar.

At the opposite ends of the hangar are wind breaks 2 of steel, concrete, or other construction which extend angularly from the ends of the side walls of the hangar so as to materially break the effect of side currents of air as the dirigible enters or departs from the hangar. The portions of the wind breaks 2 adjacent the ends of the hangar may be formed by panels 3 which may be pivotally mounted at one edge on the ends of the side walls of the hangar and may form the doors for the hangar, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The width of the hangar being considerable, the doors 3 are preferably mounted on circular tracks 4, as shown in Fig. 1. The doors 3 may be provided with suitable brackets 3a at their lower ends for supporting rollers and for stabilizing the doors.

The approach to the hangar may be toward either open end of the hangar and from traclts 5 which may extend at angles of forty five degrees, or a mile or more from the bangar. Thus, it will be seen that the direction of landing or launching of a dirigible may never be at a large angle with the direction of the prevailing wind. Because of the pro vision of two berths within the hangar, l have provided two central tracks (3 each of which is connected to each of the angular tracks 5 so that if more than one dirigible approaches in the direction of one of the tracks 5, both may he landed, drawn into, and moored with in the hangar on the arrangement of the tracks as shown. 4

Vithin the hangar, the main central tracls are divided by a switch, one branch going to one side and the other at the opposite side of the center line of the main track, as indicated by 7 and 8. These tracks 7 and 8 are preferably on the same level with the track 6. These tracks 7 and 8 form a loop bet-ween the central track 6 at the opposite ends of the hangar. A considerable distance above the tracks 7 and 8 are other tracks 9 and 10 which are parallel to the tracks 1' and 8 but are also preferably positioned outwardly therefrom, as shown best in Fi These tracks and 10 are also connected with the central traclrs 6 at the opposite ends of the hangar a slight distance outwardly from the switch forming the branch tra s 7 and 8. The intermediate portions of the tracks 9 and 10 are supported on elevated platforms 11 and 12, the former being at the central portion of the hangar and the latter adjacent the outer wall thereof, and are supported by any suitable trestle work. The ends of these platforms are inclined downwardly toward the open ends of the hangar to the main level The ends EfiQIGOf. of the tracks S) and 10 extend down the. e inclined portions of the platform and conneet with the central tracks 6 preferably on the level of the hangar.

The means for conveying the dirigible to and from the hangar, and also for anchoring the same therein, consists of a number of sets of power units, locomotives, or trolleys, each set consisting of four in the arrangement shown. These power units are inclependent and separately controllable and are preferably electrically operated by a trolley arm engaging a third charged rail, as shown best in Fig. 6. The running gear of these power units consists preferably of flanged wheels 1 1, mounted at the lower portion of the power units 13, and iollers 15 for engaging the undersides of the upper flanges of the rails 16 for retaining the power units in position on the tracks. Each of these power units is provided with winches 17 upon which are mounted one end of the launching, landing and mooring cables 18 which extend outwardly toward the rear ends and upper portions of the power units. In order to permit the cables 18 to extend in all directions, I have provided a series of rollers or sheaves 19 i'evolubly mounted on axes positioned at right angles to each other forming a convenient outlet for the cable and also roller means to facilitate the operation of the winch when the cable is extended in diflerent directions.

The lower portions of the forward ends of the cabins 20 of the dirigible 21 are provided with forwardly extended portions 20a in which are also mounted a series of rollers or sheaves 22, arranged as described in connection with the power units, for directing the drop cables 2 1 and the cables 18 relative to the drum of the winch 23 mounted preferably in the nose of the cabin. It will be noted, however, that such drop cables, rollers, winches, and the like, may be arranged at other portions of the dirigible, or at other portions in addition to that at the cabins.

In order to facilitate the fishing for the lower ends of the drop cable 2 1 thrown from each anchor post or cabin of the dirigible, and to facilitate the attachment of said end to the launching, landing and mooring cables 18, I have provided a special power unit or trolley car 25 which is provided with a far reaching balanced bridge 26 at its upper side, which bridge is pivoted on the body of the power unit 25, as shown best in Fig. 5. he extended ends of each of the cables 18 are connected to a unitary cable 18a, a portion of which, when the power units 13 and 25 are arranged as shown in Fig. 5 preparatory to landing of the dirigible, extends backwardly on to the bridge 26 and is provided at its end, extending to and on the bridge with a suitable coupling means 186. The opposite ends of the power unit 13 and the power unit 25 are provided with bumpers 27 so that the power unit 25 may push the other unit along the track as it follows the landing dirigible and as the attempt is made to connect the drop cables 24- from the dirigihis to. the coupling 18?).

The method of landing of dirigibles is substantially as follows:

A number of sets of power units, consisting preferably of four of the power units 13 and one of the units 25, are stationed along the tracks 5, the track being selected which extends most nearly in the direction of the. prevailing wind, such as the track 5 designated 5 in Fig. 1, the direction of the prevailing wind being indicated by a heavy arrow. The number of sets of power units depends upon the size of the dirigible and the number of drop cables extended therefrom, the one illustrated having two. It will be noted that if the dirigible is of such size that a number of drop cables are provided at several portions at each end or intermediate the ends, a cor responding number of the power units or vehicles 25 may be used in each set, each set being adapted to manipulate one end or one portion of the dirigible in either the launching, landing, or mooring operations. As the dirigible approaches the hangar in the direction of and nearly over the designated track, drop cables 24 are dropped and unwound from the winches 23 so that the lower end may be reached from the bridge of one of the vehicles or power units 25. The foremost traveling bridge carrying power unit 25 is moved forwardly along the track in substantially the direction and at substantially the speed of the dirigible. The bridge 26 is then swung in the direction of the drop cable and the end of the drop cable connected to the coupling 186 at the end of the cable 18a. As the power unit 25 is moved along, the other units 13 immediately ahead of the same are moved by the unit 25, by the bumpers 27 of each engaging that of the next adjacent, as shown in Fig. 5. Another following set of power units, as described above, preferably on the same track, similarly connect another drop cable of the dirigible to the other cables 18a and 18 connected to the latter set of power units. The drop cables at are then drawn in or up to the dirigible by the winches 23 until the connecting portion of the cables 18 with the unitary cable 18a is drawn to the rollers 22, the winches of the several power units 13 unwinding or winding the cables 18 until all of the cables 18 are under proper tension and the dirigible is drawn downwardly to the desired height to enter the hangar. It will be noted that as the power units are moved along the tracks, the power unit 25 must of necessity follow the units 18 except in the case of the last set of power units. Fig. 1 of the drawings shows a dirigible moored in one of the berths from the track 5. The other dirigible, about to be moored, also approaches from the track 5 but is switched tothe other traclrfi leading to the other side of the hangar. As the power units or vehicles enter the hangar, one unit or vehicle is switched on each of the lower branch tracks 7 and 8, while the. other two power units or vehicles 13 are switched to the opposite sides and ride up the inclined tracks 9 and 10 until all of the power units are substantially advanced to the same extent. As-the switching of the power units takes place, the cables 18 are drawn or released by the winches of the power units 13 so that said cables are taut at all times and the dirigible is directed into the hangar in the proper manner and held substantially immovably by the cables 18 between several sets of power units, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The trailing set of power units is switched to the several tracks in the same manner described as above until the dirigible is moored, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Below the cabins of the dirigible, as the same is moored in the hangar, is provided a platform 31 which may be either permanent, or in the form of an elevated platform, adapted to be raised and lowered to accommodate the construction of the dirigible to permit more convenient access to the cabins and other portions of the dirigible. The launching of the dirigible from the hangar is effected in a similar but opposite manner.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions of my dirigible launching, landing and mooring apparatus, and a particular method of launching, landing and mooring dirigibles I do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement,nor to the particular method, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination and arrangement, and the method, substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a hangar having longitudinally extending tracks therein, said tracks being connected to tracks extending beyond said hangar and angularly in different directions therefrom, and sets of disconnectible power units, each power unit having a cable extending therefrom, the free ends of the cables of the power units of a set of units being connected together, said power units being adapted to travel on the tracks outside of said hangar and to separate on the tracks within the hangar for drawing a dirigible thereinto.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a hangar having longitudinally extending tracks therein. said tracks being connected to tracks extending beyond said hangar and angularly in different directions therefrom,

and sets of power units having connected I cables, said power units being adapted to travel on the tracks outside of said hangar and to separate on the tracks within the hangar for drawing a dirigible thereinto, a pair of the tracks within the hangar being elevated above the other tracks therein.

In an apparatus of the class described, a hangar having laterally and vertically spaced apart tracks extending longitudinally therein and connected to a single track at one end, the space between said tracks "forming a berth for a dirigible.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, a hangar having laterally and vertically spaced apart tracks extending longitudinally therein and connected to a single track at one end, said single track extending from said hangar a considerable distance, and a plurality of sets of independently operable power units adapted to travel together on the single track and separately on the laterally and vertically spaced apart tracks within the hangar.

5. I11 an apparatus of the class described, a hangar having laterally and vertically spaced apart tracks extending longitudinally therein and connected to a single track at one end, said single track extending from said hangar a considerable distance, and a plurality of sets of independently operable power units adapted to travel together on the single track and separately on the laterally and vertically spaced apart tracks within the hangar, and cable means connecting all of said power units.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, a hangar having laterally and vertically spaced apart tracks extending longitudinally therein and connected to a single track at one end, said single track extending from said hangar a considerable distance, and a plurality of sets of independently operable power units adapted to travel together on the single track and separately on the laterally and vertically spaced apart tracks within the hangar, and cable means connecting all of said power units, said cable means comprising separate cables connected at one end and terminating in a single cable adapted to extend to a dirigible.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, a set of separately operable power units, some of said power units, being connected to a unitary cable means, another of the power units of said set of power units having a long bridged turntable to which one end of said cable means is adapted to extend, said first mentioned power units of said set being adapted to be shifted by said other power unit having the turntable and also operable independently thereof.

8. The herein described method of landing and launching a dirigible consisting in dropping cables from the dirigible, connecting said cables to other cables connected to separately operable power units, drawing said drop cables and a portion of the other cables toward said dirigible, then moving said dirigible by said power units into a hangar, and then directing said power units in different directions laterally and vertically, and anchoring said dirigible therebetween and thereby.

9. The herein described method of landing dirigibles consisting in approaching one end 01" a hangar, drawing the dirigible into said hangar and mooring the same therein by cables radiating in lateral directions therefrom near the opposite ends of the dirigible.

10. The herein described method of landing dirigibles consisting in approaching an open end of the hangar, mechanically drawing the same downwardly and directing the same into the hangar, and automatically anchoring the same from common points on the dirigible in laterally radial directions from said points.

11. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of laterally and vertically spaced apart vehicle runways substantially parallel to each other forming a space between the same for receiving a dirigible, said runways communicating with each other at one end.

12. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of laterally and vertically spaced apart vehicle runways substantially parallel to each other forming a space between the same for receiving a dirigible, said runways extending to substantially a common level at their ends.

13. In an apparatus of the class described, a set of separately operable power units, some of said power units being connected to a unitary cable means, another of the power units of said set of units having a long bridged turntable to which one end of said cable means is adapted to extend.

14. In an apparatus of the class described, a dirigible berth having a plurality of longitudinally extending runways, sets of vehicles, the vehicles of each set having cables con nected at their free ends and another cable connectible at one end to the free ends of the first cables and adapted to extend with its other end to a dirigible to be moored and for drawing the connected ends of the first cables up to the dirigible, said vehicles being adapted to enter the berth and to separate therein on said runways for supporting a dirigible therein by said cables, said first cables, when said dirigible is moored in its berth, radiating from their connected ends and from said dirigible toward said vehicles on said runways.

15. In an apparatus for landing and 1nooring dirigibles, a plurality of cooperating vehicles, each having a cable with one end of the cable connected thereto, drop cables adapted to be carried by the dirigible to be moored, one end of the drop cables adapted to be connected to the opposite ends of the first cables, and means for drawing said one end of the drop cables toward the dirigible.

16. In an apparatus for landing and mooring dirigibles, a plurality of co-operating vehicles, each having a cable connected thereto at one end of the cable, the opposite free ends of the cables being connected together, and a drop cable adapted to be carried by the dirigible to be moored, one end of the drop cable adapted to be connected to the connected free ends of the first cables for drawing the connected ends of the first cables toward the dirigible.

17 In an apparatus of the class described, a dirigible berth having a plurality of longitudinally extending runways, sets of vehicles, the vehicles of each set being connected together and adapted to move as a unit, the vehicles of each set having cables connected together at their free ends, and another cable oonnectible at one end to the connected free ends of the first cables and adapted to extend with its other end to a dirigible to be moored for drawing the connected ends of the first cables up to the dirigible, said vehicles being disconnectable and adapted to enter the berth and to separate therein on said runways.

18. In an apparatus of the class described, trains of separable vehicles, each vehicle having a cable extending therefrom, the free ends of the cables of the vehicles from each train being connectable to one end of a dirigible to be moored, said cables connected to each end of the dirigible, when the dirigible is moored, radiating in different transverse directions from the dirigible.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 15th day of September, 1927.

LEVI S. HOWLAND. 

